What Is a Doc M Pack?
A Doc M pack is a complete set of sanitaryware and accessories supplied together to fit out a disabled washroom in line with Approved Document M of the Building Regulations. Document M sets out what is required for a building to be accessible to people with disabilities, covering layout dimensions, fixture heights and the equipment that must be present in any accessible toilet facility in a building open to the public or used as a workplace.
Ordering a complete pack means every component has been selected to work together and meet the regulation. A contractor or building owner can order once, knowing the installation will comply when fitted to the correct layout dimensions, without having to cross-check every individual product against the document. For individual accessible fittings outside a complete pack, see our ranges of accessible toilets and accessible wash basins.
What Does a Doc M Pack Include?
A standard Doc M WC pack includes a raised height toilet pan, cistern, wash basin, lever action mixer tap, grab rails and a hinged support arm. The raised height pan makes transfer on and off the seat easier for wheelchair users and people with reduced mobility. The grab rails provide support during transfer and while seated. The lever tap means the basin can be operated without grip strength, which matters for a significant proportion of disabled washroom users.
Packs vary in exactly what is supplied. Some include a TMV3 thermostatic mixing valve to control outlet temperature at the basin tap, a toilet roll holder attached to the support arm, and an emergency alarm pull cord. Always check the product listing for the full contents before ordering. Any item not included will need to be sourced separately before the installation can be considered complete and compliant.
Left Hand and Right Hand Configurations
Doc M packs are available in left hand and right hand versions. The configuration refers to which side the hinged support arm sits on relative to the toilet pan. Approved Document M requires a clear transfer space of at least 700mm to one side of the WC so a wheelchair user can pull alongside and transfer across. The hinged arm must be positioned on that open side so it can be used during transfer.
A left hand pack has the arm on the left when facing the toilet. A right hand pack has it on the right. Which you need is determined by your washroom layout, specifically by which side of the toilet the clear floor space falls. Ordering the wrong configuration means the support arm will be on the wall side rather than the transfer side, which makes the installation non-compliant and potentially unusable.
Doc M Compliance and Building Regulations
Approved Document M governs access to and use of buildings. Any new building open to the public or used as a workplace, and any existing building undergoing a material change of use, must include accessible toilet facilities that meet its requirements. The document specifies minimum room dimensions, fixture heights and positions, grab rail configurations and the clear floor space required around each fitting.
Doc M packs are designed to satisfy these requirements when installed to the specified layout. Many are also WRAS approved, confirming the water fittings meet Water Regulations Advisory Scheme standards for connection to a mains supply. If you are specifying for a healthcare setting, the relevant Health Technical Memoranda should also be reviewed alongside Approved Document M as additional requirements may apply.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Doc M pack?
A Doc M pack is a complete set of sanitaryware and accessories supplied together to fit out a disabled washroom in compliance with Approved Document M of the Building Regulations. Doc M is short for Document M, the regulation that sets out requirements for access to and use of buildings by people with disabilities. A standard Doc M WC pack includes a raised height toilet, cistern, wash basin, lever action tap, grab rails and a hinged support arm, all sized to meet the layout and dimensional requirements of the regulation.
What does a Doc M pack include?
A Doc M pack typically includes a raised height WC pan, cistern, wash basin, lever action mixer tap, five 600mm horizontal grab rails and an 800mm hinged support arm. Some packs also include a TMV3 thermostatic mixing valve, a toilet roll holder and an emergency pull cord. The exact contents vary by pack, so check the product listing before ordering to confirm everything that is and is not supplied.
Do I need a left hand or right hand Doc M pack?
The handed configuration refers to the position of the hinged support arm relative to the toilet. Approved Document M requires a clear transfer space of at least 700mm to one side of the WC so a wheelchair user can pull alongside and transfer across. The hinged arm sits on the open side. A left hand pack positions the arm on the left when facing the toilet. A right hand pack positions it on the right. Which you need depends on which side the clear floor space falls in your washroom.
What building regulations apply to Doc M packs?
Doc M packs are designed to meet the requirements of Approved Document M of the Building Regulations. This sets out minimum standards for accessible toilet facilities in buildings open to the public or used as a workplace. The regulation specifies layout dimensions, fixture heights, grab rail positions and the minimum equipment required to allow a wheelchair user to use the facility safely and without assistance.
Are Doc M packs suitable for commercial buildings?
Yes. Doc M packs are specified for offices, schools, healthcare facilities, hotels, sports centres and public conveniences. Any new building open to the public or any building undergoing a material change of use is required to provide accessible toilet facilities that meet Approved Document M. Buying a complete pack means every component has been selected to work together and meet the regulation, which is simpler than specifying each item individually.
What is the difference between a flanged and a roseless Doc M pack?
The difference is in how the grab rails fix to the wall. Flanged grab rails use a visible circular rose plate at the wall fixing point, giving a traditional appearance. Roseless grab rails fix directly into the wall without a visible rose, producing a cleaner, more contemporary finish. Both meet the requirements of Approved Document M. The choice is aesthetic.
